what that bug?
March 15, 2010
my friend found this under her window
none
skopje, macedonia
Giant Shield Bug
Dear none,
This is a Giant Shield Bug nymph from the family Tessaratomidae. We located a similar image on TrekNature, possibly from Thailand, that was only identified to the family level. We could not locate an exact match on the Illustrated Catalog of Tessaratomidae website. Most species from this family are found in Southeast Asia and China, so we thought this would not be a difficult species identification, but we are having difficulty. Perhaps one of our readers will have better luck.
Metalic Geen Bug with black spots
February 21, 2010
Hi…i’m from India. The other day i had a visit from this fascinating bug. It was sitting on one Holy Basil plant in my Verandah. It’s been vacationing on this plant for the last 2 days.
Can you tell me what bug this is and which family of bugs does this belong to?
Thanks.
Sid
North India
Lychee Shield Bug
Dear Sid,
Your insect is a Jewel Bug or Shield Backed Bug in the family Scutelleridae. Scutelleridae was, according to BugGuide: “formerly considered a subfamily of Pentatomidae” which contain the Stink Bugs. Both families are now grouped into the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and they are classified in the suborder Heteroptera, the True Bugs. We found a matching photo on Flickr, but it is incorrectly titled a Jewel Beetle, and True Bugs are in a completely separate order from the beetles. There are also two different photos of this species posted on photo.net, but they are only identified as Jewel Bugs, without a species name. Continued searching revealed another photo on Flickr with the caption: “Kanch Poka (Green Jewel Bug – Lampromicra spp, under Family Scutelleridae), beetle is common insect in rural Bangladeshi bushes.“ Another Flickr page depicted this Jewel Bug with the name Chrysocoris stolli, which we then verified on Dave’s Garden website with the common name Lychee Shield Bug. The TrekNature website also pairs the scientific name Chrysocoris stolli with the common name Lychee Shield Bug for this species from India.
Lychee Shield Bug
Thanks Daniel for the great info. I found your website on google and its now on my favorite list.
You’ve got a great website for nature enthusiasts. Keep it up. Don’t ever stop it.
I have also made the donation and will make more in future also.
Cheers!
Sid
Thanks for your kind words and your generosity Sid.
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Posted 21 February 2010
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small black bugs with orange spots
February 13, 2010
there were hundreds of these little bugs crawling on some plants with a few dozen ladybugs mixed in, and they were about the same size. i was hiking in some hills in the los angeles area and it was yesterday, feb 12th
naaman
los angeles, ca
Painted Bugs mating
Dear naaman,
We first reported on the Painted Bugs from Africa feeding on our own Collard Greens and Kale in Mount Washington, Los Angeles in July 2009. We believe this fecund species has the potential to become a serious pest on cruciferous plants in the cabbage family. BugGuide also recognizes that potential. UC Riverside Center for Invasive Species website also recognizes the threat. It is interesting that in our garden as well as in your photographs, every adult seemed to have been caught in flagrante delicto, a good indication that there will soon be a new generation with even more individuals. From the angle of your photograph, it is difficult to ascertain the identity of the mating Lady Beetles.
Painted Bugs and Convergent Lady Beetles Mating
Ed. Note: Additional images revealed these to be a pair of Convergent Lady Beetles, Hippodamia convergens, a native species.
Garden infestation
February 9, 2010
We have these “bugs” all over our tomatoes this year. I live in New Zealand and tomatoes are in full swing. We have a variety of different fruit trees and other veges in our garden too. This is the first bug I have ever come across I couldn’t Identify easily. Can anyone identify this and tell me how to control it if at all?
Bemused
Auckland, New Zealand
Immature Stink Bug
Dear Bemused,
This is an immature Stink Bug, and may species are problematic on garden plants. We believe this might be an immature Green Vegetable Bug, Nezara viridula, which is pictured on the Brisbane Insect Website, or perhaps the closely related New Zealand Vegetable Bug, Glaucias amyoti, which can be seen in the adult form on the Life Unseen Website.
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Posted 12 February 2010
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What is this bug?
February 1, 2010
Hello bugman,
These interesting and very colorful bugs are all over my house. They seem to be attracted to the white walls of my house. In my front yard I have two bottlebrush trees, one stringy bark gum and some lily pily shrubs. Happy to let the little bug live all over my house….. but i would appreciate a little more info. Regards
Luke
Gold Coast, Queensland, AUSTRALIA.
Green Jewel Bug nymph, possibly
Good Morning Luke,
This is an immature Stink Bug in the family Pentatomidae. We believe it may be Lampromicra senator, the Green Jewel Bug, but alas, we are only able to locate images of adult insects. You may look on the Brisbane Insect Website, or the Save Our Waterways Now website for photos of the adults. Perhaps someone will write in to confirm this identification, or perhaps provide a link to images of the immature Green Jewel Bug nymph.
Green Jewel Bug nymph, possibly
Leaf/Lime Bug!
February 2, 2010
This bug that’s about 1 1/2 cm in diameter has been on my garage wall for at least 30 hrs. It seems to be alive and resting. When I first saw it I thought it was a small leaf. When I enlarged the picture, it looks like a lime!
Marion Furlong
Port Charlotte, Florida
Spined Green Stink Bug Nymph
Hi Marion,
This is an immature Spined Green Stink Bug in the genus Loxa. In December 2006 we received a very detailed image of a nymph and we requested assistance from Eric Eaton who put us in touch with Julieta Brambila, who contacted an expert in Stink Bugs named Joe Eger who made the identification. There are two possible species, Loxa flavicolis and Loxa viridis which are difficult to distinguish from one another as nymphs. You may read about that identification in our archives and you may see images of the adults on BugGuide. The thoracic spines that appear on the adult are not evident on the nymphs. What most amazes us is that this same individual has been living on your garage for thirty years and it has never matured. We found the Global Biodiversity Information Facility website that indicates the range of Loxa flavicolis as being Florida, Texas, Mexico and Central America, but we are not having any luck identifying the host plants. The Sonoran Desert Bugs website provides some information.
Spined Green Stink Bug Nymph
Correction
Hi Danial,
Thanks for your time and help identifying the bug as a Spined green stink bug, I was pleased to hear from you so fast and to be a part of your bug identification site.
When I read what you printed about the bug being on my garage for 30 years I thought I’d made a mistake. You misread it, it had been there for 30 hours! I thought you may like to know so you can change it.
If it’s not to late, it’s still there and has moved into a different position. I took a couple more pictures from a different angle and with my fingers next to it to get an idea of the size.
Thanks again for your help.
Marion Furlong
Oops. Thanks for the correction Marion. Sometimes we read things too quickly.
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Posted 03 February 2010
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Please Identify This Bug that Keeps Breaking Into My House
January 27, 2010
We just moved into a house in Frederick, Maryland that is over one thousand years old. It’s January so I’m not sure where this bug keeps coming from. So far (sorry to say this) I’ve killed 5 of these in just one week in the back bedroom. Last night one “attacked” us while we were sleeping in the front bedroom. I caught one today to take pictures of and then let it go (after reading some on your site). I dont like killing bugs but I want to keep these guys outside…any suggestions?
Jeff Z.
Frederick, Maryland
Stink Bug
Dear Jeff,
We weren’t aware that there were any homes in Maryland dating to the first millenium. This is a harmless Stink Bug in the family Pentatomidae. Stink Bugs often enter homes to hibernate when the weather cools. They will not harm your home, its furnishings, nor its inhabitants.
I’m very sorry to misinform you. In all the madness of moving in my brain messed up the math… The house is over 100 years old (1850-1900 were the dates given).
Thank you very much for the information and quick responce!
Sincerely,
Jeff Z
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Posted 28 January 2010
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Black/yellow/orange beetle
January 27, 2010
this beetle mysteriously showed up in my water bottle(of all places). I live near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. As you can see in the pictures it is black and yellow, with a hint of orange on the back and an orange striped belly. I have never seen a beetle like this here before, and the only way I can figre it got in the house was I had a television delivered to me the other day and it could have came with it(where the tv came from I do not know).
Josh
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Two Spotted Stink Bug
Hi Josh,
This is an adult Two Spotted Stink Bug, Perillus bioculatus. Individuals of the species can exhibit variable coloration, most commonly with all of the white markings being red. The Two Spotted Stink Bug is a beneficial predator, and according to BugGuide, it preys upon the Colorado Potato Beetle. The range is much of the United States and parts of Canada, and since Stink Bugs often seek shelter indoors to hibernate, it is also a possibility that your individual originated in your own vicinity.
Thank you very much for the prompt response and information! What a great website 
Josh
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Posted 27 January 2010
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Bugs in my Kitchen
January 12, 2010
I’m noticing many of these bugs that are always showing up mostly in my Kitchen. They appear mostly during the colder months. They are 6 legged mottled brown in appearance with a light/dark rear edge that gives it a jagged look. Each bug always show up as roughly the same size each time – about 1/2″ long x 3/8″ wide. They are slow moving and I think they have wings.
Thanks for your help!
Gary Schneider
Central NJ
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Hi Gary,
The reason you are finding Tree Stink Bugs in the genus Brochymena in your house is that they seek shelter indoors when the weather begins to cool. They hibernate and become active again in the spring. They will not harm your home, its furnishings, or its inhabitants.
Corrected by Eric Eaton
Hi, Daniel:
The “tree stink bug” is actually a “brown marmorated stink bug,” Halyomorpha halys, a fairly recently introduced species from Asia that is becoming widespread. Pennsylvania was the site of its introduction, so no doubt they are quite common there now. They are well known for congregating on, and sometimes inside, homes and buildings during the colder months. They are harmless, though don’t smell very good if you grab one.
Eric
January 7, 2010
Hi,
Thanks for that information. I’ve attached two more photos, a close up of the green bug, and one that shows very little detail, but how the little brown ones were spread on the deck. This a 84m long 18m beam ship covered in this way!!!
Regards, Alan
UK
Ed. Note: Found on ship Off coast of Mauritania
Unknown Jewel Beetle
Hi Alan,
We wish your photo showed the head and mouthparts. We believe this is a Jewel Beetle or Metallic Borer Beetle in the family Buprestidae, but we are unsure what species. We will post the image to get assistance from our readership. Mauritania issued a stamp in 1970 with a Jewel Beetle, but it is not your species. We are also linking to your previous letter with the unusual phenomenon of Hemipterans swarming your ship.
Correction courtesy of Eric Eaton
Hi, Daniel:
The brown bugs on the ship are something in the family Coreidae (leaf-footed bugs, squash bugs). The green “beetle” is actually another true bug, a shield bug in the genus Callidea or Calliphara. It is easier to tell from the distant image than the close-up! The awkward angle of the close-up does make it appear to be a buprestid, I agree.
Wish I could be of more help. The coreids should be easy for a European entomologist to identify, but I’ll keep looking, see if I can come up with something.
Eric
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Posted 09 January 2010
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Stink/Shield Bug from Knoxville, TN
January 7, 2010
Hello,
I found this little insect crawling across the ground at the Knoxville Zoo, Knoxville, TN, during our summer vacation this past August. I believe it is a stink or shield bug, but I haven’t been able to find photos of any species with the same crisp pink trim and overall pale color of this bug. Could you help?
GinnyGray
Knoxville, TN
Tree Stink Bug
Hi GinnyGray,
We have decided to allot a bit more time than usual to provide you with a response, and that means sifting through numerous pages on BugGuide. We have decided that we will just being indicating possibilities and then make a guess as to the actual identity. There are some similarities to Euschistus inflatus, notably the pink edges, but that species seems to be limited to Utah according to BugGuide. We wonder if perhaps it might just be a light, possibly recently metamorphosed Brown Stink Bug, Euschistus servus. According to BugGuide: “Body is oval with the underside being slightly concave and the abdomen narrow. Entire dorsal side grayish yellow with dark brownish-gray punctures becoming denser at the edges of the pronotum. The last two antennal segments (fourth and fifth) are darker in colour. The ventral surface usually has a pinkish tinge. Cheeks large passing the clypeus in length and more pointed. The humeral angles of the pronotum are rounded.“ We will post your letter to see if anyone writes in with suggestions, and we will also contact Eric Eaton for his opinion.
Tree Stink Bug
Thank you so much for your prompt response! I examined photos of brown stink bugs before submitting, but I failed to find many photos of adults or nymphs with such a distinct pink pattern. The paleness of the wing membrane also seems atypical for an adult, so I also suspected that it may simply have recently metamorphosed. Hopefully, you guys will unearth a more definite ID.
Thanks again!
Eric Eaton provides identification
Hi, Daniel:
This is indeed a stink bug, a recently-molted adult in the genus Brochymena. The wing membrane has yet to attain any pigmentation, and remains soft. It will eventually darken and stiffen.
Eric
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Posted 09 January 2010
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